Ritchie ditches Scots for ‘foreseeable future’
Robert Snodgrass, who has played in West Ham’s last three games – is confident the players he has selected are good enough to secure a Euro 2020 play-off place.
“We’ve factored in everything that could happen and we know what we have to do,” he said. “I feel we have the players who can do it. I have trust in them.”
McLeish added: “Matt wanted to be left out for the foreseeable future. It’s private. It’s not something for me to discuss. He had injury issues as well and, again, there is management of his injuries.
“I wanted Matt to come in, but he has asked to be left out at the moment. He has not retired or anything. You don’t know everyone’s private life so you have to respect that. I think if you spoke to the people concerned you would be accommodating as well.”
Asked if Cairney had decided not to represent Scotland in future, McLeish said: “No, he hasn’t. There hasn’t been any chat on it. We felt that Tom has only recently come back into the Fulham side after injury. He hasn’t been in the rhythm. We feel that there will be another time for Tom to come back into the squad.”
Asked about Snodgrass, McLeish said: “He’s managing a kind of ankle knock that is ongoing. It made him miss the last games too. He went back. So, again, it’s something that was out of our control.”
McLeish is hopeful Mulgrew recovers. “Charlie is still on the treatment table, but we should know by the end of the week,” he said. “If he doesn’t play it might be that we have to call up somebody else, but I spoke to Charlie and he’s really enthusiastic. He says he’s absolutely desperate to play.”